Spreading word of Armed Forces Day

CABBIES across the Capital are set to back UK Armed Forces Day by handing out thousands of stickers to passengers ahead of the big event.

Around 2,500 personnel from the Army, RAF, and Royal Navy will parade through Edinburgh attracting crowds of 80,000 visitors over the weekend of June 24 to 26.

Among the highlights is a series of spectacular Red Arrows displays and parades. Charles and Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, will also attend the event.

City taxi drivers, some armed forces veterans themselves, are publicising the weekend to bring residents and visitors to line the streets for the UK annual event.

The full programme was set to be launched today by television presenter Lorraine Kelly and Lord Provost George Grubb.

Bob McCulloch, 67, from Fairmilehead, and his Royal Scots veteran son Neil, 39, have pushed for all city firms to publicise the weekend.

Mr McCulloch, who has been a cab driver since 1979, said: "Neil was in the 1st Battalion the Royal Scots and came into the cabs after he left the army.

"Both Neil and myself are members of the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers in London and each year they take children with life-threatening illnesses to Disneyland Paris.

"We've done that since 2005. So when the company heard about the Armed Forces Day they asked me and Neil to pitch the idea to all the cab firms.

"We've been handing out stickers to everyone we can and there's been a great response."

Son Neil, 39, who served with the Royal Scots for seven years, said the weekend was an opportunity to celebrate the work of armed forces personnel and bring veterans together.

He said: "Armed Forces Day means a lot to service men and woman and veterans. It's just a wee bit of appreciation for the job you do.

"There'll be quite a sense of pride on the day. It's also a great opportunity for a lot of veterans to come together, many lose touch after they leave the forces."

Edinburgh Lord Provost George Grubb said: "It's great to hear that our taxi drivers are supporting National Armed Forces Day.

"There really is something for everyone whether it's the spectacular sight of 2,000 veterans and armed forces personnel marching down the Royal Mile, the various Red Arrows displays or all the family fun and military activities in Holyrood Park.

"I urge everyone to come along and enjoy a fantastic weekend in support of our service personnel."

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